Robbin Hood: Men In Tights Absurd Exaggerations
Much like Dickens uses absurd exaggerations to make readers question how society is run, Mel Books uses absurd exaggerations in his satire Robbin Hood: Men In Tights to invoke humor and to question modern society, stories, and religion. The movie's opening credits mock the cliche of flaming arrows when the characters break the fourth wall, stopping the credits and exclaiming "there has to be a better way to do the credits!" (Brooks). Instead of the same old village burning under tyranny to start off the story of Robbin Hood, like everyone expects, Brooks has the fire department show up and save the cottages from the flames. This absurd change causes viewers to realize how seemingly every telling of Robbin Hood starts with the flaming arrow cliche. Brooks also satirizes Nike shoes, when the character Achoo stops an action scene to "pump up," (Brooks) and he reaches down and inflates his kicks. This exaggeration causes views to question the logic behind inflatable shoes, as one would never stop their day to bend down and pump them up. Such absurd portrayals of life relate to Dickens' in purpose and technique. Both stories' momentary absurdity cause readers to question the story, and therefore, pieces of society which relate to the story. Dickens's exaggeration of the Old Bailey's blind enslavement to the mob, for example, is absurd. Readers know people are in not such tools that they would blindly follow the will of a mob so easily, and they question the comically absurd scene. However, history shows that events like the Old Bailey do occur; thus, readers end up questioning mob mentality's role in their lives and society as well. Brooks and Dickens both paint absurd scenes to invoke comedy and reflections on society.
Much like Dickens uses absurd exaggerations to make readers question how society is run, Mel Books uses absurd exaggerations in his satire Robbin Hood: Men In Tights to invoke humor and to question modern society, stories, and religion. The movie's opening credits mock the cliche of flaming arrows when the characters break the fourth wall, stopping the credits and exclaiming "there has to be a better way to do the credits!" (Brooks). Instead of the same old village burning under tyranny to start off the story of Robbin Hood, like everyone expects, Brooks has the fire department show up and save the cottages from the flames. This absurd change causes viewers to realize how seemingly every telling of Robbin Hood starts with the flaming arrow cliche. Brooks also satirizes Nike shoes, when the character Achoo stops an action scene to "pump up," (Brooks) and he reaches down and inflates his kicks. This exaggeration causes views to question the logic behind inflatable shoes, as one would never stop their day to bend down and pump them up. Such absurd portrayals of life relate to Dickens' in purpose and technique. Both stories' momentary absurdity cause readers to question the story, and therefore, pieces of society which relate to the story. Dickens's exaggeration of the Old Bailey's blind enslavement to the mob, for example, is absurd. Readers know people are in not such tools that they would blindly follow the will of a mob so easily, and they question the comically absurd scene. However, history shows that events like the Old Bailey do occur; thus, readers end up questioning mob mentality's role in their lives and society as well. Brooks and Dickens both paint absurd scenes to invoke comedy and reflections on society.